Development and implementation of an oral sign-out skills curriculum.

Full Abstract

INTRODUCTION:
Imperfect sign-out of patient information between providers has been shown to contribute to medical error, but there are no standardized curricula to teach sign-out skills. At our institution, we identified several deficiencies in skills and a lack of any existing training.

AIM:
To develop a sign-out curriculum for medical house staff.

SETTING:
Internal medicine residency program.

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION:
We developed a 1-h curriculum and implemented it in August of 2006 at three hospital sites. Teaching strategies included facilitated discussion, modeling, and observed individual practice with feedback. We emphasized interactive communication, a structured sign-out format summarized by an easy-to-remember mnemonic ("SIGNOUT"), consistent inclusion of key content items such as anticipatory guidance, and use of concrete language.

PROGRAM EVALUATION:
We received 34 evaluations. The mean score for the course was 4.44 +/- 0.61 on a 1-5 scale. Perceived usefulness of the structured oral communication format was 4.46 +/- 0.78. Participants rated their comfort with providing oral sign-out significantly higher after the session than before (3.27 +/- 1.0 before vs. 3.94 +/- 0.90 after; p < .001).

DISCUSSION:
We developed an oral sign-out curriculum that was brief, structured, and well received by participants. Further study is necessary to determine the long-term impact of the curriculum.

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Author information

Author/s: Horwitz, Leora I (LI); Moin, Tannaz (T); Green, Michael L (ML);

Affiliation: Center for Outcomes Research and Evaluation, Yale-New Haven Hospital, New Haven, CT, USA. leora.horwitz(-atsign-)yale.edu

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

Journal: Journal of general internal medicine : official journal of the Society for Research and Education in Primary Care Internal Medicine (J Gen Intern Med), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2007-Oct; vol 22 (issue 10) : pp 1470-4

Dates: Created 2007/09/21; Completed 2008/01/02;

PMID: 17674110, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 11/6/2008)

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Adult
Communication
Curriculum
Education, Medical, Graduate - methods
Female
Humans
Internal Medicine - education

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